As to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, who at the desire of Beni-bahadyr’s had left Ilah-abad in order to join him in the Vezir’s army; that nobleman no sooner heard of this second defeat, than he came back, and remained secretly in that city for a length of time; until the Vezir had made his peace with the English, and the troubles of the country had subsided; then only that worthy good man, that pattern of fidelity and righteousness, thought proper to quit that corner of silence and obscurity, in order to repair to M8rsh8d-abad But we shall in time make further mention of him, if it pleases God, whenever we come to speak of Mahmed-reza-qhan; for at present our business is with Shudjah-ed-döulah.

That Prince after his second defeat, repaired to Feroh-abad, where he complained bitterly of the defection and general inattention of the Afghan nation. On this accusation, every one of their rulers brought forth some excuse, and covered himself with some pretence. Every one had a word for himself; but as it was not from the heart, it made no impression upon the Vezir. How­ever Ahmed-qhan-bangash, son to the famous Mohammed-qhan-ghazem-fer-djung, acted with more sincerity and candour. It is true he hated heartily Shudjah-ed-döulah, but he was too noble-minded to conceal his opinion, and had too much frankness to keep a veil upon the real state of things. “You,” said he, “that expect to obtain victory with the assistance of these Afghans, and some other strangers, are much mistaken in your reckon­ing. I give you notice that not one of them will prove of any use to you; nor will that expectation of yours produce any thing, but a further opportunity of spending amongst your enemies, as well as amongst your own troops, some handfuls more of that little money that may remain to you from your former treasures. For rest assured that after all, you shall remain still in the state in which you are to-day; nor will these very by-standers, that now hear us, answer any purpose at all, but that of standing mere spectators of victory, and of making it a subject of mirth and sport amongst themselves. As to my own part, I have nothing at your service, but my advice; and it is this: either come direcly to a new battle, or submit to a peace. Content yourself then with the troops on whose attachment you can depend; and without waiting vainly for any one’s assistance, do rush impetuously upon your enemy, and lay your account with obtaining the victory, or perishing in the attempt; and then, if you survive that action, you shall be found to have been playing at dice with your own honour and life; or else, if you find such a business difficult, and your heart bids nothing for it, then without any one’s mediation, get up, and go alone, and only with your person, to the English camp. Nor do think ill of such a step. From what I see and hear of those strangers, they seem always to act according to the dictates of generosity and sound sense; nor is it probable that they shall throw the dice of treachery with you, or bring you into any disgrace or danger; on the contrary, I shall be egre­giously mistaken, if out of regard to your name, and out of respect to the renown of your family, they shall not set open the door of friendship, and shew you so much regard and consider­ation, as shall not fail to satisfy you intirely.”

Whilst these events were taking place at Feroh-abad, the King and the English Commanders were making another effort The garri­son of Chen­nar-gur sur­renders to the English. upon the minds of to the garrison of Chennar. They remonstrated to them how little they could rely on Shudjah-ed-döulah’s successes or victories, and how improvided they were against a siege; and at last they prevailed upon them to surrender the fortress; when part of them took service with the victors, and part went to Shudjah-ed-döulah, their master. But this new reverse having greatly affected that Prince, who by this time had fully perpended the Rohillah Prince’s advice, he thought it both advantageous, and honourable to take such a step. With a small number of his favourites, he got into his paleky, and took to the road that led to the English army having with him no more than a dozen of horsemen; and he was already at hand, when intelligence was brought to the General, that the Vezir of Hindostan was approaching in that manner. That Commander stood amazed, and at first was at a loss how to distinguish truth from falsehood; but the matter having been ascertained beyond Shudjah-ed-döulah, with­out any safe conduct, goes almost alone to the English camp, where he is received in a respectful manner. doubt, he sent forward Radjah Shytab-ráy, and himself followed on foot in a respectful manner with all his officers. The Vezir on seeing the General advancing on foot, alighted from his paleky, and embraced him; and he then received the several Nezers, which he as well as all his officers presented. The General continued on foot all this while with them, and in that manner they sur­rounded the Vezir in his paleky, and conducted him to a tent, that had been provided for the purpose, and where he was desired to alight. There the General saw him partake of an entertain­ment* prepared for the occasion; and he continued to treat him with so endearing an attention, that he seemed he had made it a point never to abate any thing either in himself or in his officers from the utmost respect shewn at first; the whole of his behaviour being one continual scene of civility and deference. Shudjah-ed-döulah after having partaken of the entertainment, went to take a nap; and after some rest, he got up perfectly satisfied, and returned to a spot two or three cosses distant, where he had pitched his own tents, and where his retinue, which did not amount to above four hundred men in all, was waiting for him. There he remained three or four days, in which time he made use of Shytab-ráy’s mediation to conclude a peace with the English. And now being satisfied and easy in his mind, he availed himself of the modest looks of the English, to send for his whole retinue, and to keep it about his person; having so far divested himself of all suspicions, as not only to inter­change messages and messengers very often with the General, but even to be desirous of his company. Insomuch that it became common to see those two eminent adversaries often in each other’s lodgings, without any ceremony at all. Shytab-ráy, during this intercourse, was advancing in his negotiation, where he was aiming at the mutual satisfaction of both parties. But such was his gratitude for the kindness shewn him by the Vezir, when once he had found it necessary to seek an asylum in his Shudjah-ed-döulah con­cludes a peace with the English. Minister’s house, that he evidently inclined to Shudjah-ed-döulah’s side; and it was perceived that he was endeavouring to oblige him and to promote his interest to the utmost of his wishes: a conduct which acquired him the esteem and applause of both friends and foes. The negotiation having taken up but a few days, peace was concluded under the following conditions: “That to discharge the expenses of the war, Shudjah-ed-döulah would pay fifty lacks of rupees to the English in the following manner: Twenty-five lacs contant, and twenty-five lacs by assignments upon the future revenues of his country; under condition, however, that any contributions which the English might have already raised in them, should be deemed parts of the assigned sums. That the province of Ilah-abad should be set apart for the sole use of the Emperor; and that the city and fortress of that name should be assigned for his residence It was stipulated likewise that Nedjef-qhan, who had attached himself to the Emperor and to the English, should have a yearly pension of one lac, to be deducted out of the Imperial revenue due by Bengal. That a body of English troops should remain at Ilah-abad to guard the Emperor’s person; and that an Englishman on the part of the English nation, should reside at Shudjah-ed-döulah’s Court, in the quality of Vekil or Agent, and Mian-dji or go-between, but without power to meddle with that Prince’s affairs. That after the conclusion of this treaty, the friends and enemies of one party should be deemed the friends and enemies of the other; and of course, that if an enemy should declare against one party, the other should be bound to give him assistance; but under condition, that whoever of the two contractants called for troops to his assistance from the other party, should pay their charges to their owner. To all these articles was added another; and it was this: That the Radja Belvant-sing, Zemindar of Banares, who by his siding with the Emperor and with the English, had been found fault with by Shudjah-ed-döulah, should be pardoned and forgiven; but under condition of his remaining subject to Shudjah-ed-döulah, although without ceasing to be under the protection of the English.” The above articles having been set to writing by both sides, and ascertained by their signatures and seals, as well as by those of their principal officers, they were confirmed and exchanged; and there remained now to Shudjah-ed-döulah not one reason for staying, save that of paying quickly the money promised.